French coach Blahic handed Morocco women’s team job ahead of World Cup and Olympics

French coach Eric Blahic has been appointed head coach of the Morocco women’s national team, replacing Spain’s Jorge Vilda.

The 61-year-old takes charge after the Atlas Lionesses finished fourth at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with Morocco now turning its attention to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Blahic brings international experience

Blahic arrives with extensive experience in both club and international football, although much of his coaching career has been in assistant roles.

He has worked with French clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Sochaux, Guingamp and Bordeaux, and spent part of the 2025-26 season with Nantes. He also holds a UEFA Pro coaching licence.

His experience with women’s football includes two spells with the France national team.

Blahic first joined the French women’s set-up in 2020 as an assistant to Corinne Diacre. He returned in 2023 as part of the coaching staff led by Herve Renard.

During that period, he worked with France at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He was also part of the team that reached the final of the 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Blahic left the France set-up after the Olympics, ending a 16-month spell with the national team.

Vilda departs after AFCON campaign

Blahic succeeds Vilda, who took charge of Morocco in October 2023 following the departure of Frenchman Reynald Pedros.

Under Vilda, Morocco reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s AFCON but missed out on a place in the final after losing to Cameroon on penalties.

The Atlas Lionesses then suffered another defeat by Algeria in the third-place play-off to finish fourth.

World Cup and Olympic qualification ahead

Blahic inherits a Morocco side that has already secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Olympic Games will provide another immediate target, with Morocco advancing directly to the third round of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics following the withdrawal of Congo-Brazzaville.

The appointment also represents a significant step in Blahic’s career, as Morocco will be his first national team role as a head coach.

A new challenge for Morocco

Morocco’s women’s team has made significant progress in recent years, including reaching the final of the 2022 Women’s AFCON and qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Blahic will now be expected to build on that development and turn Morocco’s growing presence in African women’s football into stronger results and trophies at continental and international level.